Anderson Cooper’s report irks Korina Sanchez

MANILA, Philippines—The CNN report on the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” by its acclaimed reporter, Anderson Cooper, drew positive reactions on social media, saying its simple portrayal of the aftermath showed the real miserable situation of what was considered “ground zero” of the devastation.

Aired on Wednesday (Manila time), the report had Anderson describing the situation at the Tacloban airport, where many evacuees keep on waiting for relief goods and hoping they could board the military C130 planes to get them out of the city.

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The report apparently irked local TV anchor-commentator Korina Sanchez. In her early morning radio show, she was quoted as saying: “Itong si Anderson Cooper, sabi wala daw government presence sa Tacloban. Mukhang hindi niya alam ang sinasabi niya. (This Anderson Cooper, he said there is no government presence in Tacloban. It seems he doesn’t know what he is saying.)

Sanchez reaction was lambasted by netizens, saying she doesn’t have the right to criticize Cooper or his report because she’s only doing an anchor’s job, comfortably in the air-conditioned newsroom. Whereas Cooper is reporting live on the scene.

Others can’t help but associate her being the wife of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who reportedly said to the media that the situation in Tacloban and nearby areas is now under control.

This proved to be contrary to what Cooper had reported the same day.

In the said report, Cooper interviewed a woman he met on the street. A certain Jovelyn Taniego had lost her husband and six children during the storm surge. She was the only one in her family who survived. She has found the bodies of her husband and three of her six children. With no place to bury, she had no choice but to leave them on the ground.

She showed Cooper their rotting corpses she covered with leaves, torn clothes and wood she found on the street as she waits for help. As for her other three children, she told Cooper she’s lost hope in finding them alive.

Asked by Cooper where she’s going to spend the night, Taniego said, “In the street. I [really] don’t know where to go.”

Another victim Cooper interviewed was Juanito Martinez, who lost his wife and two children. Cooper let Martinez use his satellite phone to call his mother in Manila. Martinez cried as he told her what happened to his family.

In a later report, Cooper said it’s already the fifth day after the super typhoon struck Tacloban and he thought he’s already late. He said he expected at least a feeding center where survivors could line up but they are still at a loss where to find the next day’s meal.

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Cooper summarized his report with the phase, “Here, misery is beyond meaning.”

In the same day, he tweeted via his official account, Anderson Cooper 360° ‏@AC360:

“Everywhere you go you find people searching for their lost loved ones” @andersoncooper in #Tacloban. #AC360

Among the netizens who reacted was former Makati Representative Teodoro “Teddy” Locsin Jr. i@teddyboylocsin. Also a noted TV-radio commentator-newspaper columnist-editorial writer, Locsin tweeted: “Good news. Korina said Anderson Cooper does not know what he is talking about. She just guaranteed he will stay for one month.”

In another tweet, Locsin said, “Thank you Anderson Cooper for existing. Without you we would be in dreamland.”
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